Gao et al reported a nomogram for predicting 180-day readmission risk for a patient with chronic heart failure. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from Shantou University and Qingdao Central Hospital in China.
Patient selection: hospitalized patient with chronic heart failure
Outcome: 180-day readmission
Parameters:
(1) acute heart failure
(2) emergency admission
(3) serum urea in mmol/L
(4) age in years
(5) beta-blocker therapy
Parameter
Finding
Points
acute heart failure
yes
0
no
100
emergency admission
no
20.7
yes
0
serum urea
< 7.1 mmol/L
0
7.1 to 8.3 mmol/L
8.9
> 8.3 mmol/L
15
age in years
< 60 years
0
60 to 70
4.4
70.1 to 80
6.3
80.1 to 90
8.1
beta blocker therapy
yes
0
no
3.7
where:
• Age in the nomogram is labeled for < 60 and 60 to 70, with no labels for 3 other marks.
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 148.7
• The higher the score the lower the risk of readmission.
